Move-in most successful ever

By Bernie DeGroatNews and Information Services

Thanks to meticulous planning by the U-M Housing Division/City of Ann Arbor move-in task force, this years four-day move-in of nearly 10,000 students into University residence halls was one of the smoothest ever, say city and University officials.

It went very well, says Alan Levy, director of public affairs and information for the Housing Division. There were some minor glitches, but the overall plans that had been worked on for months by the University and the city were largely successful.

Levy attributes this years success in large part to the new designated move-in schedule, which began Aug. 30.

People largely complied with the day they were supposed to move in, he says. The consequence was that we spread out the 9,700 people moving in over at least four days, and to some degree, with returning students, even longer.

Move-in task force member Jeff Ellis of the Building Department, Office of the City Administrator, also believes the new move-in schedule helped ensure success.

The staggered move-in was the real key, he says. Without that, I dont think we could have been successful. It was required in order for all the pieces to fit together.

Ellis also says that enhanced cooperation between the University, city departments and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) was essential for a smooth move-in.

I dont think in the past that weve had any coordination on the scale that we did this year, he says. Thats the reason this thing worked. We got everyone involved and I think that that had a tremendous impact on the success of move-in.

In addition to less traffic congestion, this years move-in caused little trouble for patients visiting the Medical Center or for riders of AATA buses, Levy says.

Ellis adds that city officials and police had few complaints, as well.

This was the most successful move-in weve ever had, he says. It took a lot of work, but weve set in motion something thats going to be successful from now on.